Case studies

Solar Team Twente 2009

For the solar car 2009, TenCate has offered the team a wide range of space and aerospace composites. These are produced by TenCate Advanced Composites in Nijverdal, The Netherlands. TenCate yielded both TenCate Cetex® thermoplastic glass reinforced carbon laminates, as high-end core thermoplastic materials for the production of lightweight structural parts of the solar car.
Lightweight structure
For the solar car 2009, TenCate has offered the team a wide range of space and aerospace composites. These are produced by TenCate Advanced Composites in Nijverdal, The Netherlands. TenCate yielded both TenCate Cetex® thermoplastic glass reinforced carbon laminates, as high-end core thermoplastic materials for the production of lightweight structural parts of the solar car.

In addition, carbon, glass and aramide texture is supplied for both the curves of the solar car and for its structure. With its sponsorship material TenCate seeks a substantial reduction of the weight of the solar car of Solar Team Twente without affecting the overall strength of the vehicle.

The frame of this solar car is now 5 kilograms lighter. This is a weight savings of 29.4 percent. The frame weighs only 12 kilograms. Another advantage of composite material is its easy way to finish, so that the surface of the vehicle is smoother and more aerodynamic. The total air resistance of the solar car is 25 percent lower due to the new design, the good finished surface and thanks to the flexible body structure.

The main innovation in the solar car 2009 is the flexible, pivoting body structure which connects the wing of the car to the frame. This body structure is made of a thermoplastic elastomer, which the team uses to optimize the aerodynamic properties.

The solar car of Solar Team Twente distinguishes itself thanks to the large amount of energy that is achieved by the tilting wing. The wing moves with the sun, so that sunrays fall directly onto the solar cells. This, together with the patented lens system, focuses solar energy onto the underlying solar cells. Thus enabling the team to generate 7.5m2 of sunlight from 6m2 of solar cells. This approach in fact works like a magnifying glass.

Lightweight texture
Solar Team Twente 2009 is put into red overalls made of heat and flame resistant fabric that is produced by TenCate Protective Fabrics in Nijverdal, The Netherlands. This lightweight TenCate Tecashield® material is highly durable through the use of aramid fibres.

Thanks to TenCate Outdoor Fabrics, an inherently flame retardant red garage tent for the solar car is accompanied by an inherently flame retardant red ground cloth for small repairs on the side of the road. The team sleeps in inherently flame retardant red tents made of TenCate materials.

Because all tents have a pump up frame, they can be set up fast and easy. The canvas of TenCate Outdoor Fabrics is composed by a blend of four different fibres, offering the canvas its inherently flame retardant qualities. The material is strong, has great breathability properties and has moisture-regulating capacity and is resistant to all weather conditions. This is important because in Australia the temperature differs enormously between day and night.